- May 1 A's Elmer Valo is 1st AL'er to hit 2 bases-loaded triples in a game
- May 1 Gerard Kuiper discovers Nereid, (2nd satellite of Neptune)
Event of Interest
May 2 Arthur Miller wins Pulitzer Prize for "Death of a Salesman"

Arthur Miller
- May 2 Bolivian state of siege proclaimed
- May 2 Don Newcombe, 1st start, shuts out Cincinnati on 5 hits to win 3-0
- May 3 1st firing of a US Viking rocket; reached 80 km
- May 4 Plane carrying the entire Torino Serie A soccer squad crashes on the outskirts of Turin, Italy; 31 killed; Torino awarded League title at the request of their rivals
- May 5 KGO TV channel 7 in San Francisco, California (ABC) begins broadcasting
- May 5 Statute of Council of Europe drawn up
- May 5 Detroit Tigers second baseman Charlie Gehringer is elected in the Baseball Hall of Fame
- May 7 75th Kentucky Derby: Steve Brooks aboard Ponder wins in 2:04.2
- May 8 West German constitution approved
- May 9 Britain's 1st launderette opens in Queensway, London
Event of Interest
May 9 Prince Rainier III becomes monarch of Monaco

Rainier III
Event of Interest
May 12 1st foreign woman ambassador received in USA (Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit of India)

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
Historic Invention
May 14 US President Harry Truman signs bill establishing a rocket test range at Cape Canaveral

Harry Truman
- May 17 British government recognises Republic of Ireland (previously Irish Free State)
- May 18 Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America incorporates
- May 23 Federal Republic of [West] Germany created out of the American, British and French occupation zones
- May 25 Chinese Red army occupies Shanghai
Event of Interest
May 27 Indians start 12-17, owner Bill Veeck arranges a "Second Opening Day"

Bill Veeck
- May 27 Martin Canine, cartoon character, spoofs Martin Kane
- May 28 French Championships Men's Tennis: Frank Parker retains title; beats fellow American Budge Patty 6-3, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4
- May 28 French Championships Women's Tennis: Margaret Osborne duPont wins her second French singles crown; beats Nelly Adamson Landry of France 7-5, 6-2
- May 29 Candid Camera, TV comedy show, moves to NBC
- May 29 1st British Film and Television Awards (BAFTAS): "The Best Years of Our Lives" Best Film
- May 29 2nd British Film and Television Awards (BAFTAS): "Hamlet" Best Film
- May 30 East German constitution approved
- May 30 NPS/VHP win 1st general election in Suriname
- May 30 WRTV TV channel 6 in Indianapolis, IN (ABC) begins broadcasting
- May 30 Indianapolis 500: Bill Holland wins in 4:07:15.939 (195.257 km/h)
- May 31 PGA Championship Men's Golf, Hermitage CC: Sam Snead beats fellow American Johnny Palmer, 3 & 2; first time reigning Masters champion wins PGA Championship in the same calendar year.
- May 31 Charley Lupica begins stay on 4 foot square platform atop a 60' pole, vowing to stay until Indians clinch pennant. (They don't, & stays 117 days)